Anesthesia Fundraiser Gets a Little Hairy

Rodrigo Llobet, Brian Donnenfeld, Robert Lekowski, Bryan Max, Barrett Johnston and Matthew Giuca sprout mustaches in a contest to raise money for families of children at DFCI.

Anesthesiologists around the hospital have a little something extra on their upper lips these days.

That’s because the department’s holiday fundraiser this year involves a mustache-growing drive. Eight male residents and attending physicians have put down their razors to benefit patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“We wanted to raise money for families of children with cancer who can’t afford gifts for their children this holiday season,” said Bryan Max, MD, the second-year Anesthesiology resident behind the creative fundraiser. He had been involved with a similar effort while in medical school.

Max and his BWH colleagues found more than 50 sponsors for their mustaches, which began sprouting in early November. “People are being really generous,” Max said, noting that support has come from department chairs, doctors, administrators and nurses. “We’ve got other supporters who are willing to match the sponsors’ donations out of their own pockets.”

Like the mustaches, the funds keep growing. The anesthesiologists already have surpassed their goal of raising $2,000.

Brian Donnenfeld, MD, Rodrigo Llobet, MD, Matthew Giuca, MD, Robert Lekowski, MD, and Barrett Johnston, MD, are letting their creative sides show, sporting styles such as handle bars and goatees. Max said the styles are conversation-starters with patients and have brought about some good laughs. “We enjoy making fun of one another’s new looks,” he said.

Those who are not keeping their mustaches plan to shave in the first week of December, around the time the donations will be delivered to DFCI.